Poacher's Ridge

Merlot 2018

Name: Merlot 2018
Brand: Poacher's Ridge
Price: 34 AUD
Availability: InStock

$34.00

A Great Southern Merlot

WINEMAKING

Fruit is harvested and crushed into small open fermenters. The cap is plunged by hand three to four times a day to obtain gentle extraction of fine grained and silky tannins. Post fermentation the wine is run off into French oak barrels, 25% being new, for 15 months maturation. The wine is pumped into tank prior to bottling before being gently fined (egg white) and filtered.

Picked by hand 22nd March 2018

COLOUR

Medium red colour with great depth.

AROMA

Plum fruits dominate aromas, and are backed by typical Merlot creaminess and subtle French oak characters.

PALATE

Lovely mid weighted palate with great balance of plum fruits and tight structure. Fine tannins, cedary French oak and balanced acidity give the wine length and drive and a long elegant finish.

CELLARING

Enjoy over the next 5 years.

AWARDS

94pts — James Halliday Wine Companion 2021
92pts — The Real Review
92pts — Ray Jordan

REVIEWS

"Poacher's Ridge Merlot is always at, or near, the top of the tree."

— James Halliday

“Hand-picked, open-fermented, matured in French oak (30% new) for 17 months, 85 dozen made. Deep crimson-purple; Great Southern merlot meets the challenge of Margaret River merlot head on, here blue and red berry fruits, fine tannins and French oak are all focused on the same page of what is a very good medium-bodied wine with excellent balance and length, the oak integrated.”

— Halliday Wine Companion 2019

“Indigo-violet in colour. Scents of sweet smelling ripe plum, fruitcake and a hint of mint. The body is full, rich both in flavour and texture, lashes of plump damsons and sweet spices. Ample, ripe tannin and a warm, lengthy finish.”

— Amanda Yallop, The Real Review

“A delightfully elegant and most stylish medium-bodied merlot from this very good year. Dominant plummy fruit with a cherry lift more evident on the nose. Muted fruitcake and currant characters work into the mix. Chalky, fine tannins and a well-judged use of oak complete things..”

— Ray Jordan

PRODUCTION

251 cases